The Billboard 1915-02-06: Vol 27 Iss 6 (1915-02-06)

eee ads — =e te Sar ate The Billboard FEBRUARY 6, 1915. ZIEGFELD’S FROLIC FOR LONDON “HIPP”’ Albert De Courville Sees Show at the New Amsterdam Roof and Contracts for Duplicate Production for London House New York, Jan. 30.—The Lusitania brought Albert De Courville, managing director of the London Hippodrome, to New York last Tuesday. The English showman is making one of his regular trips to America in search of suitable attractions for the Hippodrome, and to present in other theaters throughout England in which he has interests. During his first tour of New York theaters he visited the roof of the New Amsterdam Theater, where Ziegfeld’s Midnight Frolic is entertaining patrons of the Follies de Danse. Liking the show and the Ziegfeld novelties (including the glass walk whereon chorus girls parade above the heads of tired business men) Mr. De Courville contracted with Ziegfeld for a duplicate production be made at the London Hipp. Zjégfeld has also contracted for the idnight Frolics to be an attractio in San Francisco for the New Trial In the Will Contest for Division the Estate of James A. Bailey. New York, Jan. 29.—Judge Keough, before whom the last trial was held, sitting in court at White Plains, yesterday granted a new trial of the case of Mrs. Anna Isabelle Hutchinson vs. J. T. McCaddon and other heirs of Mrs. James A. Bailey. The case will not be tried again until after the circus season is over, this fall. This will be a third trial of the case, each side to the contest having previously received a verdict in the action to set aside the will of Mrs. Bailey (late widow of James A. Bailey) on the grounds of undue influence, charged against Joseph T. McCaddon, her brother, and one of the principal beneficiaries under the will. Mrs. Hutchinson is the mother of Charles Hutchinson, treasurer of Barnum & Bailey Show, and Fred Bailey Hutchinson, manager of the Sells-FlotoBuffalo Bill Shows. Mrs. Bailey was her sister, and Mrs. Hutchinson seeks to obtain a division of the estate. She was willed an annuity of $10,000, Mr. McCaddon, Mrs. Dr. Harper and Theodore McCaddon, brothers and@ sister of Mrs. Bailey, getting the bulk of the estate under the will now being eontested. 3 . ree Sunday Lid in Newark Newark, N. J., Jan. 31.—Starting today the lid will be clamped down tight on Sunday performances (both benefit and otherwise), concerts, dances, etc., in this city. Orders to that effect were sent out last week by the new Police Board. All amusement arrangements made for today have been canceled, and the advance seat sale money refunded. Mr. Hopper Is a ‘‘Popper’’ New York, Jan. 28.—De Wolf Hopper became a proud and haughty father last night when Mrs. Hopper (who was Eida Furry before her marriage to the tall comedian) presented him with a son at a local nursing hospital. The proud parent is traveling on the road, and was notified by telegram immediately. Divorce Suit Against Wolf New York, Jan. 27.—Rennold Wolf, dramatic critic and writer, who got a divorce in 1910 from his first wife, formerly Hope Booth, an actress, was yesterday made defendant in a divorce suit. Although papers in the suit were served on Mr. Wolf he was not represented, nor did he offer any opposition to the petition. Y Action Against Scalpers Chicago, Jan. 27.—A subcommittee of the City Council today called on Mayor Harrison asking that the licenses of several loop theaters be revoked on the grounds that the home, 280 St. Nicholas avenue, after an illness of two years. Mr. Wiegand was 68 years old, 47 of which he spent in the theatrical business. In addition to managing many famous stars he at various times managed the old Fourteenth Street Theater, Niblo’s Gardens and the Grand Opera House. He was one of the founders of the Friars’ Club. A wife and two daughters survive him. Funeral services were held at his residence this afternoon. Hanky Panky on 8.&H. Circuit Chicago, Jan. 31.—Hanky Panky, after a season of eccentric bookings, has decided to tour the Stair & Havlin Circuit. This show is booked for the Walnut in Cincinnati week of February 7. Record-Breaking Business The Grand Opera House in Cincinnati is having a run of tremendous business for all attractions. Ziegfeld’s Follies came within an ace of equaling the house record last week, which is held by David Warfield. Al Woods’ production of Potash and Perlmutter gives promise of smashing David Warfield’s record this week. The first day of the advance sale for Potash and Perlmutter last Thurs Raising the indoor sidewall at the New York Hippodrome. Midwinter Circps. managers are in collusion with ticket scalpers, who are tremendously active. It is not known what action, if any, will be taken. Theaters named in the proceedings are the Cort, Cohan’s Grand, Powers, Garrick and American Music Hall. Julian Johnson’s Successor New York, Jan. 30.—The capa and affable Julian Johnson, who been doing Comstock & Gest’s press representation, has been ceeded by the equally urbane and efficient Will Page. Mr. Johnson has enough to do press-agenting the Oliver Morosco attractions here and there. Primrose Divorced Portland, Ore., Jan. 27.— Mrs. Esther Primrose was yesterday granted a separation from George H. Primrose on a charge of desertion. Charles F. Wiegand Called New York, Jan. 29.—Charles F. Wiegand, for a number of years a prominent theatrical manager and advance agent, died Tuesday at his 7 day broygeht $4,500. The sale on night reached $9,000, a recthe house for an advance sale. tions point that Potash and utter will be sold out for the gement by Wednesday noon. The Cgndy Shop, with Rock and Fulton, llows Potash and Perlmutter, and hrough the success gained last season in Cincinnati indications point that this attraction will also keep up this remarkable business for Manager Aylward’s house. E. M. Smith Retires Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan. 30.—B. M. Smith, who, for six years, has been a partner of A. J. Gillingham, in the Gillingham & Smith theatrical enterprises here, has retired, but will continue as a director of the company, of which he was secretary-treasurer. He will dispose of his home here and in the spring will leave for Los Angeles. He may later engage in the amusement business in California. Mr. Gillingham acquires the holdings of his partner to a large extent, and Charles Seaman, who has been associated with Mr. Gillingham for two years in the offices of the General Film Company, Detroit, will take the local management. . Fair Acts To Form Protective and Booking Chicago, Jan. 29.—A preliminary meeting looking to the formation of a protective and booking organization of fair acts was held in this city January 28. It was well attended and the motives of the promoters applauded. W. B. Barker, secretary pro tem., read a brief paper outlining the simple objects of the meeting. He stated that fair secretaries had been required to pay from twenty-five to seventy-five per cent in excess of the money actually received by acts, and that the utterly unnecessary difference had gone into the pockets of fair booking agents, whose conduct constituted an intolerable outrage against the acts and the fairs that paid them. He proposed an organization which should include all first-class acts, each member of which should carry an upto-date schedule and route of all the other acts on the roster, so that at any fair or carnival any desired act could be signed up for its open dates without stirring from the spot. In this way there would always be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty agents in the field, so that no fair secretary would be out of touch with all the available acts at any time. Also, that tentative arrangements for the bonding of every act have already been made and that at a cost not to exceed five per cent of the contract price for each act. Inasmuch as, according to the organization promoters, this has been the only real service performed by the agencies, this puts the greatest weapon in their own hands. When perfected the organization intends to carry a weekly announcement of all its acts under a correct heading in The Billboard, thus affording a route list and directory available to the fair secretaries for instant use throughout the season. Apart from the bonding and notices there will be no expense incurred by the organization. It is intended that a season schedule of prices will be printed for each act, open to inspection by all fairs. There will be no favoritism or boosting, each act being engaged on its merits and accordimg to the necessities of the fairs. , Among others at the meeting were the Nutty McNutts, W. B. Barker, Walter Stanton, Nels Conser, The Avolos and L. B. Sergeant. Many letters were read from out of town acts who professed themselves in sympathy with the movement, and asking to be represented by proxy. The Co-Operative Fair Acts was suggested as a name for the organization and this will be acted upon at the next meeting, scheduled for Thursday of next week. In the meantime W. B. Barker will busy himself getting letters to many acts around the country. War and the Serious Drama Chicago, Jan. 30.—Out from the ashes of the past Ouida’s Under Two Flags emerged at the Lincoln Theater only to be relegated to the discard, because of the rampant animosity shown by its first audience—chiefly German folk—to the display of the French flag and to French glorification. Miss Jessie Shirley’s company, with twelve people, made the essay. It’s a thirty-minute tabloid, and has enjoyed a long stock run in Spokane. Judging from the resentment shown by the German population it would have proved a riot with a French audience. How about Fall River, Mass. ?